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VATICAN CITY — In the second podcast from Vatican Voices, Bishop William J. McNaughton, a father of the Second Vatican Council, talks about Vatican II and revitalizing the Catholic faith in the modern world.

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Why aren’t you over here helping us save our country by trying to get Catholics to vote against the Democrat Party who have successfully attacked God’s greatest gift – the Gift of Life – for 39 years which has resulted in 52,000,000 American babies being murdered, and who are now attacking the Catholic Church, directly, by taking away our Constructional Right of Freedom of Religion?

It’s so good to hear the bishops speaking out boldly, challenging Catholic people to LIVE their faith, to inform the minds. Education about Catholic teaching and morality and political responsibility is what will help us change things in the long run.

Stilbelieve urges ” Catholics to vote against the Democrat Party who have successfully attacked God’s greatest gift-the Gift of Life- for 39 years….” To what extent has the Republican Party earned the support of Stilbelieve based on that party’s efforts in the last 39 years to overturn the decision in Roe v. Wade ? Roe V. Wade was decided in 1973. Of the 9 Justices who decided that case, 5 were nominated by a Republican President. Of the 7 Justices voting with the majority, 4 were nominated by a Republican President. Of the two dissenting Justices, one was nominated by a Republican President, and one was nominated by a Democratic President. The only Catholic Justice on the Court voted with the majority. Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 there have been 22 Justices, of which 14 were nominated by a Republican President. Since 1973 there have been 3 Chief Justices, all appointed by a Republican President Of the 9 Justices appointed since 2005, 5 have been Catholic. On the present Supreme Court, 5 of the 9 Justices were nominated by a Republican President. Six of the present Justices are Catholic. Of the last 12 Justices on the Court, (between 2006 and 2012). 8 have been nominated by Republican Presidents. In the last 39 years ,The President has been a Republican for 23 years. In the last 24 years, each party controlled the office for 12 years. Between 2001 and 2008 the President was a Republican. Of the 6 Sessions of Congress between 1995 and 2006, the Republican party controlled both Houses 5 times. Between 2003 and 2006 the Republican party controlled both the Presidency and the Congress. Durinf the 21st century , Republicans have not introduced legislation to amend the Constitution to reverse Roe v. Wade. Gov. Romney opposed abortion as a Mormon Bishop; Gov. Romney supported Abortion as a candidate for Governor in Mass., a Democratic state; Governor Romney opposed abortion without exceptions in the Repblican primary campaign; now, as the Republican nominee, Gov. Romney opposed abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. When asked about his agenda as President, Gov. Romney , replied that he did not see abortion on his agenda . Rep. Ryan, prior to his candidacy was opposed to abortion as an intrinsic moral evil, without exceptions. In response to a question in the Vice-Presidential debate Ryan said: “The policy of a Romney administration is to oppose abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother”, a position contrary to the Church’s teaching. Presumably, Rep. Ryan would consider himself a member of the “Romney Administration” as the Vice-President. Rep. Ryan has said that decisions on the issue of abortion should be made not by Judges but by ” people through their elected representatives in reaching a consensus in society through the democratic process….” Sixty-four percent of Catholics disagree with the Church’s teaching that abortion is morally wrong in every case. A majority of the American people would seem to agree. Fot the record, I am a Catholic, opposed to abortion without exceptions, a Democrat intending to vote for Obama. I do so because the Democratic party has supported the moral imperatives of a preference for the poor; affordable health care for all; diminishing the income inequality; a fair tax reform based upon the ability to pay according to your means; immigration reform; respect for the rights of working people; racial and minority justice;reasonable regulation of Wall Street and capitalism run amok; for international peace through justice and love; deficit reduction through balanced humane means. Finally, I believe that there is no justification upon the record to expect that a Republical administration will be any more effective in the future to illegalize abortion without exceptions than they have been in the last 39 years. I agree with Rep. Ryan that progress will only be made on that issue when there is a “consensus in society through the democratic process” to do so. To achieve that consensus, required in a democratic nation, the process must begin in the Catholic Church to gain the support of its members. A partisan approach will not succeed. In fact, it will only dimiinish the unity in Christ that we all long for. Ralph G Conte

Using abortion as the lone criteria to vote against the democrats is short sighted, Catholic teachings are more commonly allied with the democrats ideology than that of the republicans. The democrats have always been been in the forefront on social issues that affect the poor and disenfranchised of the country. The conservative ideology that everyone should be responsible for themselves and not rely on government is based purely on greed and selfishness. The argument that Obama is taking away freedom of religion is preposterous. The large Catholic family is a thing of the past. Catholics have and are practicing birth control. If the women of child bearing age who work for Catholic institutions were askd to empty their purses, i am positive there would be a wide array of contraceptives. Obama is simply saying “they use them”, include thier costs in your health care coverage.